Blizzard looking into free-to-play Starcraft

StarCraft 2 lead designer Dustin Browder says the company is looking into the possibility of F2P for the multiplayer, but doesn't know how to monetize the idea.

PC companies big and small are looking at free-to-play as a new way of generating revenue. Blizzard is no exception, and has reportedly been thinking about ways it could use the F2P model for StarCraft 2's multiplayer mode.

PC Games N reports that at an eSports panel, lead designer Dustin Browder said the company is "looking at free-to-play as an option for the multiplayer." Multiplayer remains one of the series' most popular features, especially for its ties to eSports competitions.

The problem, though, is that Blizzard hasn't figured out how to make any money off a free-to-play model, since the mode wasn't conceptualized that way. And more importantly, would a free-to-play Starcraft game even be fun? "We don't know how we would monetize it," Browder said. "While it might be good fun for me to play against someone with only half the units available to them, that's not going to be an enjoyable experience for them."

Steve Watts

Editor-In-Chief

Steve Watts' youthful memories are are a blur of pixels, princesses, castles, and Mega Busters. After writing about games as a pastime for years, he got his first shot at a paid gig at 1UP. He's freelanced for several sites since then, and found a friendly home at Shacknews. His editorial duties include news, reviews, features, and lunatic ravings. He lives in the Baltimore-Washington area with his shockingly understanding wife.